Editorial: Political posturing begins

There is something about election time that gets the blood pumping.

No matter what level of government, elections certainly bring out the best and worst of those wishing to represent us, the people.

The build-up to October's local government election has been slow, but it is starting to heat up in Hawke's Bay.

A number of candidates have already put their hands up for the various mayoral and councillor positions on all the councils in our region and there are going to be some interesting battles. There are some new faces, but a lot of seasoned campaigners are doing it all again.

Some of the results can probably be predicted now, but elections always have the capacity to spring a surprise or two.

The great thing about elections is that they are a great leveller. History is littered with candidates with big mouths and big reputations failing at the only hurdle that matters - the ballot box. Even though local elections generally have a low turnout, it is still the voice of the people. It will be interesting to see what the people say this time and whether some candidates, who think they speak for many and think they have a lot to offer, will actually be elected.

It is all about finding the right message. Apathy is a major problem in local elections and often all it takes is for a candidate to push one issue that resonates with the public for them to be elected.

The added intrigue in this elections is that in the background looms the spectre of amalgamation. Battlelines are already being formed and the results of these elections will possibly give us the first real look at how voters, especially in Napier, feel about amalgamation. It would certainly make things interesting building up to a referendum on amalgamation.